Reappraisal Mitigates, While COVID-19 Burnout Exacerbates the Impact of Depressive Symptoms on Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese College Students

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024 Sep 11;17:3147-3157. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S463316. eCollection 2024.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a global public health issue. This study examined the role of COVID-19 burnout and reappraisal in suicidal ideation caused by depressive symptoms among Chinese college students.

METHODS: 587 students (261 boys, M age = 19.53, SD = 1.42) were assessed using the Short Depression-Happiness Scale (SDHS), Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) inventory, and Emotion Regulation Scale (ERS).

RESULTS: Correlation analysis indicated depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with reappraisal and positively correlated with suicidal ideation and COVID-19 burnout. Reappraisal was negatively correlated with suicidal ideation and COVID-19 burnout. The moderated mediation model showed COVID-19 burnout enhanced the direct effect of depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation and indirectly enhanced this effect by weakening the protective role of reappraisal.

CONCLUSION: These finding show that reappraisal acts as a protective factor against suicidal ideation in individuals with depressive symptoms, while COVID-19 burnout exacerbates this effect by weakening reappraisal’s protective role.

PMID:39280038 | PMC:PMC11402369 | DOI:10.2147/PRBM.S463316